Brandie

Meet Brandie, a 10-month-old fully papered ABCA Tri-Red Border Collie who is just beginning to explore the world and life inside a home. Born to an outside life and last of her litter, all she knew of the world was her outdoor kennel, her littermates, and her breeder. Now in rescue, Brandie is learning all about the big world – specifically how to trust, love, and connect — and she’s looking for someone who can give her the calm, steady environment she needs to thrive.

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Personality
Brandie entered rescue as a skittish, soft, and quiet girl, just beginning to discover the joys of indoor life and human companionship. Initially wary of new environments and especially cautious around men, she has made steady progress in her Austin foster home—including building trust with her foster dad. While she still prefers women and takes a thoughtful, observant approach to unfamiliar situations, Brandie now explores her comfort zones with growing curiosity and confidence.

She follows her person closely and looks to them for reassurance when something feels uncertain. Given a moment of encouragement, she’ll step forward with the inquisitiveness of a puppy discovering the world anew. She has started seeking affection, accepts full handling with no resistance, and is learning that cuddles can be pretty wonderful. Brandie thrives in calm, structured settings and enjoys outdoor adventures, quiet jogs, and spending time with other respectful dogs.

Personality Highlights
• Gentle & Submissive – Never shown fear aggression or defensive behaviors
• Velcro When Out – Stays close to her trusted person in public settings
• Careful Observer – Builds trust slowly but sweetly and accepts physical affection
• Loves Calm Jogs – Especially enjoys peaceful nighttime strolls
• Dog Social – Enjoys the company of other dogs and engages in soft play
• Adventurous Spirit – Always ready to jump in the car and explore new places

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Strengths
❤️ Sweet and affectionate once bonded
❤️ Gives gentle nose boops to get your attention
❤️ Potty trained – No accidents indoors
❤️ Walks beautifully on leash – Calm and steady pace
❤️ Fully crate-trained – No barking, no chewing of bedding or cover
❤️ Gentle with dogs – Engages in soft, appropriate play
❤️ Handles grooming (baths, brushing, nail trims) without stress
❤️ Loves swimming
❤️ Non-destructive – Has never chewed or damaged anything indoors
❤️ No digging or jumping fences

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Weaknesses
😐 A little skittish — Cautious skepticism about new situations, but she’s getting braver every day
😐 Alerts when strangers are present — Will bark when unfamiliar people approach
😐 Developing recall — Follows her human everywhere, but can be tricky to catch by the collar
😐 Developing food & toy drive — Slowly learning to accept treats and discovering the fun in toys
😐 Indoor life is new — Household noises like the fridge or stove can still startle her
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✅ Crate trained – Calm, quiet, and finds safety in her crate
✅ Leash trained – Walks well, especially at night
✅ House-trained – No accidents indoors (only goes when unobserved)
✅ Allows full handling – Can be leashed, brushed, and bathed easily
❌ Medium recall – Not a runner, but maintains a casual distance; will follow you and self-load into her crate and car
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Social
Brandie coexists in the home well with calm, respectful dogs and will engage in gentle play when comfortable—especially with flirty male Border Collies who give her space. At the dog park, she mostly hovers around her human but is developing a curiosity to explore, play with her foster siblings, and even engage with new dogs or the occasional stranger.

She shows no reactivity or aggression toward other animals or people. In a busy outdoor shopping mall or on a restaurant patio, she will walk on leash with confidence and sit quietly under your chair, observing the world from a safe place.

While her confidence with people is still developing, she continues to make steady progress and is always game to go on an adventure and explore new parts of the world with her human.
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Sport
Brandie has the pedigree and structure for sport, with at least one of her siblings currently training in agility. Her mental and emotional rehabilitation has come a long way—so much so that she now accompanies her agility foster mom to the training arena every day. She’s developing both toy and food motivation, though she still has a long road ahead. With time and continued confidence building, Brandie may be a great fit for light recreational sports. She is not currently being formally evaluated for sport potential.
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Home Life
Brandie is fully crate trained and confidently moves throughout the house when given free roam. She has never had a potty accident indoors and doesn’t chew or damage furniture, bedding, or belongings. She sleeps soundly through the night and either follows her person around or rests quietly during the day.

She enjoys being outdoors and will self-entertain in the yard—especially if another dog is around to play with. Remarkably quiet, Brandie does not bark at neighbors, other dogs, or to come inside. The only exception? A late-night possum sighting might earn a bark or two.

Whether chilling by your feet in the office or gearing up for a full day of hiking, running, and playing, Brandie adapts beautifully to her environment and daily routine.
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Brandie’s Perfect Forever Home
✅ Quiet, low-traffic household
✅ Secure fenced yard
✅ Patient adopter experienced with fearful or under socialized dogs – especially herding breeds
✅ Female primary caregiver preferred
✅ Another calm, confident dog (optional but helpful)
✅ Home that respects boundary and builds trust slowly
✅ A family that values quiet companionship and steady progress
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What Wouldn’t Be Ideal for Brandie
❌ Busy, high-energy home with lots of activity
❌ First-time dog owners without experience with fearful dogs
❌ Homes with expectations of quick bonding or high activity
❌ Apartment homes without a private yard for potty needs
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Why Brandie is Special
💙 She is pure heart—gentle, innocent, and quietly seeking connection
💙 She is loyal once bonded and devoted to her trusted person
💙 She is quiet, clean, and non-destructive
💙 She needs you—and the right person will be her whole world
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Ready to Give Brandie the Peaceful Home She Deserves?
🐾 Let’s help this sweet cowgirl find the safe and loving home she’s been waiting for. 🐾